2023 Pro Swim Series – Fort Lauderdale: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – FORT LAUDERDALE

• March 1-4, 2023
• Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Long Course Meters (50 meters)
• Prelims/Finals
  • Prelims: 9:00 AM (EST)
  • Finals: 5:00 PM Wednesday, 6:00 PM (EST) Thursday-Saturday
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Psych Sheets
• Ways to Watch
• Storylines to Follow
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap

FRIDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

The third day of the 2023 Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale is here. This morning’s prelims session will feature heats of the 200 free, 50 breast, 50 fly, 200 back, and 400 IM.

After winning the women’s 50 back last night, Arizona State pro Regan Smith comes in as the top seed in the women’s 200 back this morning. Smith is the World Record holder and Pro Swim Series record holder in the event. Also in the field is 200 fly champion Summer McIntosh, as well as 1500 free and 400 free champion Katie Grimes.

American backstroke star Ryan Murphy enters the day as the top seed in the men’s 200 back by a wide margin. Murphy is seeded at 1:54.15, which is nearly a second under the PSS record of 1:55.04.

Katie Ledecky is the top seed in the women’s 400 IM and 200 free this morning. Ledecky is likely to have a battle on her hands in the 200 free, as World Junior Record holder Summer McIntosh is also in the field. On top of that, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Siobhan Haughey is set to race the 200 free this morning as well.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:54.79, Summer McIntosh (2022)
• American Record: 1:53.61, Allison Schmitt (2012)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.40, Allison Schmitt (2012)/Katie Ledecky (2021)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:54.40, Katie Ledecky (2021)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Summer McIntosh – 1:55.04
2. Katie Ledecky – 1:57.13
3. Leah Smith – 1:58.74
4. Ella Jansen – 1:59.27
5. Regan Smith – 1:59.35
6. Siobhan Haughey – 1:59.70
7. Bella Sims – 1:59.95
8. Claire Weinstein – 1:59.96

16-year-old Summer McIntosh wasted no time this morning, throwing down a 1:55.04 to lead prelims of the women’s 200 free by over two seconds. McIntosh holds the World Junior Record in the event at 1:54.79, so we’ll be on record watch tonight since she was only 0.25 seconds off that mark this morning. The Pro Swim Series and US Open Records both sit at 1:54.40, so we’ll be eager to see what McIntosh has in store tonight.

Katie Ledecky was the next-fastest swimmer this morning, looking strong and in control as she pulled away from the final heat. Ledecky swam a 1:57.13 to grab lane five for tonight. We can expect a faster swim from Ledecky tonight, the question is simply how much faster will she go.

Leah Smith had a solid morning swim of 1:58.74, while Canadian Ella Jansen also put up a solid swim at 1:59.27. Regan Smith made it back for the ‘A’ final with a 1:59.35. With Smith now training under Bob Bowman, who had had a lot of success with 200 freestylers, it will be interesting to see how much she improves in the event.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:42.97, David Popovici (2022)
• American Record: 1:42.96, Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:44.10, Michael Phelps (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:44.82, Sun Yang (2016)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Luiz Altamir – 1:47.65
2. Ruslan Gaziev – 1:48.22
3. Kieran Smith – 1:48.38
4. Matt Richards – 1:48.57
5. Jorge Iga – 1:49.03
6. Trenton Julian – 1:49.03
7. Shaine Casas – 1:49.08
8. Drew Kibler – 1:49.23

Brazil’s Luiz Altamir led prelims of the men’s 200 free by a big margin this morning, speeding to a 1:47.65. Ohio State’s Ruslan Gaziev came in second this morning with a 1:48.22. While his swim was a great morning performance for him, Gaziev may scratch finals tonight. He had a strong performance in the 100 free prelims yesterday then pulled out of finals, so we’ll see what he does tonight.

Kieran Smith was right behind Gaziev, swimming a 1:48.38. After a pair of very good swims in the 100 free yesterday, Matt Richards was back at it this morning with a 1:48.57, making the ‘A’ final comfortably.

Trenton Julian, the runner-up in the 200 fly last night, made it back for the ‘A’ final as well, swimming a 1:49.03 this morning. Julian dropped big from prelims to finals in the 200 fly yesterday, so keep an eye on him tonight.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• World Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• American Record: 29.40, Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 29.62, Lilly King (2018)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 29.62, Lilly King (2018)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Imogen Clark – 30.47
2. Lilly King – 30.97
3. Rachel Bernhardt – 31.09
4. Kara Hanlon – 31.36
5. Tara Vovk – 31.59
6. Siobhan Haughey – 31.67
7. Macarena Aileen Ceballos – 31.86
8. Annie Lazor – 31.90

Imogen Clark led prelims of the women’s 50 breast by half a second this morning, swimming a 30.47. It was a strong morning swim for Clark, whose personal best sits at 30.02.

Behind Clark is the 100 breast champion from last night, Lilly King. King swam a relaxed 30.97 this morning, taking the second seed for tonight. The Pro Swim Series Record holder in the event, we can expect a faster swim from King tonight in finals.

King’s training partner, Annie Lazor, made it in as well, taking eighth this morning in 31.90.

Siobhan Haughey also raced the event, taking sixth this morning in 31.67. Haughey has previously been exclusively a freestyler in LCM racing, however, she’s showing her breaststroke ability lately. After time trialing a 1:07 100 breaststroke yesterday, we’ll get to see Haughey in a breaststroke final tonight.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (2017)
• World Junior Record: 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• American Record: 26.45, Nic Fink (2022)
• U.S. Open Record: 26.52, Michael Andrew (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 26.97, Felipe Lima (2019)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Michael Andrew – 26.84 (PSS RECORD)
2. Tommy Cope – 27.72
3. Nic Fink – 27.73
4. Cody Miller – 27.85
5. Julia Horrego – 28.10
6. Charlie Swanson – 28.17
7. Lewis Fraser – 28.21
8. Gergory Butler – 28.27

Michael Andrew was out like a bullet this morning in the men’s 50 breast prelims, roaring to the fastest time in the world this year in 26.84. Additionally, his swim marks a new Pro Swim Series Record in the event, taking 0.13 seconds off the previous mark, which had stood since 2019. Andrew holds the US Open Record at 26.52 from last year.

Club Wolverine pro Tommy Cope was second this morning in 27.72, narrowly leading 100 breast champion Nic Fink (27.73) and Cody Miller (27.85).

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (2014)
• World Junior Record: 25.46, Rikako Ikee (2017)
• American Record: 25.38, Torri Huske (2022)
• U.S. Open Record: 25.46, Rikako Ikee (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 25.65, Farida Osman (2019)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Abbey Weitzeil – 26.37
2. Emilie Beckmann – 26.58
3. Katerine Savard – 26.71
4. Natalie Hinds – 27.04
5. Amalie Mikkelsen – 27.23
6. Erika Brown – 27.31
7. Lily Lyon – 27.33
8. Kiley Wilhelm – 27.55

100 free champion Abbey Weitzeil posted the top time of the morning in the women’s 50 fly, swimming a 26.37. The swim marks a personal best for Weitzeil in the event.

Denmark’s Emilie Beckmann had a good morning swim as well, going 26.58 for second.

American 18-year-old Kiley Wilhelm swam a 27.55 to take eighth this morning, qualifying for the ‘A’ final, It was a huge personal best for Wilhelm, taking half a second off her previous mark.

MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 22.27, Andriy Govorov (2018)
• World Junior Record: 22.96, Diogo Ribeiro (2022)
• American Record: 22.35, Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 22.84, Caeleb Dressel (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 23.11, Matt Targett (2012)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Michael Andrew – 23.25
2. Dylan Carter – 23.25
3. Shaine Casas – 23.61
4. Diogo Ribeiro – 23.80
5. Ilya Kharun – 23.96
6. Zach Harting – 23.98
7. Tom Carswell – 24.12
8. Lewis Fraser – 24.25

Michael Andrew and Dylan Carter tied for the top time in the men’s 50 fly this morning, both swimming 23.25. For Andrew, it was a particularly impressive performance, as he had just broken the Pro Swim Series Record in the 50 breast in the previous event. We’ll get to see him do the same double tonight, with probably a similar turnaround between events, so we’ll see what he can do with it.

Carter won the men’s 100 free last night and will be swimming in the middle of the pool in finals tonight. With Andrew coming off the 50 breast final, Carter will have the advantage of being more fresh, so we’ll see if he can dip under 23 tonight.

Speaking of dipping under 23 seconds, Portugal’s Diogo Ribeiro was fourth this morning in 23.80. Ribeiro cracked the World Junior Record in the event this past summer, swimming a 22.96.

We also can’t ignore 18-year-old Ilya Kharun, who shattered the Canadian Record in the 200 fly last night en route to winning the event. Kharun swam a 23.96 this morning, but he dropped big from prelims to finals in the 200 fly yesterday, so we’ll see how juch faster he can be tonight.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
• World Junior Record: 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
• American Record: 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:05.08, Phoebe Bacon (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:05.94, Regan Smith (2020)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Regan Smith – 2:10.79
2. Katie Grimes – 2:13.47
3. Athena Meneses Kovacs – 2:15.17
4. Erika Pelaez – 2:15.29
5. Olivia Smoliga – 2:15.69
6. Kayman Neal – 2:15.82
7. Bella Sims – 2:15.85
8. Audrey Derivaux – 2:16.23

World Record holder Regan Smith looked smooth and in control this morning as she cruised to the top time of prelims with a 2:10.79. Though that time is well off Smith’s World Record of 2:03.35, and even her Pro Swim Series Record of 2:05.94, she still led the field by nearly three seconds this morning.

Smith is in the driver’s seat heading into finals tonight, as Katie Grimes was second this morning in 2:13.47. Grimes is a fierce competitor, but her personal best in the event is 2:09.52, well off Smith’s PB. Grimes’ Sandpipers teammate Bella Sims made it back too, swimming a 2:15.85 for seventh this morning. Sims is a 1:48 yards 200 backstroker, so she may pose a threat tonight, particularly if she was just doing what she needed to in order to make the final this morning.

Also of note, 13-year-old Jersey Wahoos swimmer Audrey Derivaux made the ‘A’ final for tonight, swimming a 2:16.23 for eighth this morning.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:55.14, Kliment Kolesnikov (2017)
• American Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:53.08, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:55.04, Xu Jiayu (2017)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Ryan Murphy – 2:01.54
2. Jay Litherland – 2:02.05
3. Yeziel Morales – 2:02.26
4. Joao Coasta – 2:02.53
5. Aidan Norman – 2:03.01
6. Chase Kalisz – 2:03.27
7. Amadeusz Knop – 2:03.39
8. Chris Thames – 2:03.51

Ryan Murphy led the field this morning in the 200 back with a 2:01.54. We can expect Murphy to be faster tonight, as he’s already been 1:57.62 this year.

Jay Litherland was second in 2:02.05.

Canadian 16-year-old Aidan Norman took fifth this morning in 2:03.01.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:26.36, Katinka Hosszu (2016)
• World Junior Record: 4:28.61, Summer McIntosh (2022)
• American Record: 4:31.12, Katie Hoff (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 4:28.61, Summer McIntosh (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 4:31.07, Katinka Hoszu (2015)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Katie Ledecky – 4:39.97
2. Bailey Andison – 4:45.52
3. Tess Cieplucha – 4:45.80
4. Ella Jansen – 4:49.21
5. Kim Emely Herkle – 4:51.21
6. Michaela Mattes – 4:52.14
7. Sofia Plaza – 4:52.42
8. Claire Weinstein – 4:53.08

Katie Ledecky was dominant in the 400 IM prelims this morning, swimming a 4:39.97 to finish first by five seconds. Ledecky took over the final heat on backstroke and never looked back, expanding her lead through breaststroke, then through freestyle as well. Ledecky has already been 4:36.09 in the event this year, which makes her the second-fastest performer in the world for 2023.

In the second heat, Bailey Andison got the touch on her Canadian teammate Tess Cieplucha, swimming a 4:45.52. Cieplucha finished second in the heat in 4:45.80. They earned the second and third seeds for tonight’s final respectively.

Canada had a strong showing here, as fellow Canadian Ella Jansen was fourth this morning with a 4:49.21.

MEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:03.84, Michael Phelps (2008)
• World Junior Record: 4:10.02, Ilia Borodin (2021)
• American Record: 4:03.84, Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 4:05.25, Michael Phelps (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 4:08.92, Chase Kalisz (2018)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Lorne Wigginton – 4:20.68
2. Bobby Finke – 4:21.71
3. Sean Grieshop – 4:25.89
4. Nathan Holty – 4:27.35
5. Charlie Swanson – 4:27.56
6. Ilya Kharun – 4:28.97
7. Grant Sanders – 4:29.05
8. William Ryley – 4:29.37

Lorne Wigginton opened up a huge lead on heat two, storming to victory in 4:20.68. He won his heat by seven seconds, establishing the fastest time of the morning.

Bobby Finke was in control of the final heat this morning, but touched a second off Wigginton’s time with a 4:21.71.

Ilya Kharun, the 200 fly champion from last night, made it into the ‘A’ final here as well, swimming a 4:28.97. Kharun already qualified for the 50 fly final tonight, so he’ll be pulling double duty, assuming he sticks with both events.